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Physician Interview Questions

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Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Physician interview questions and answers.

  1. How do you build rapport and trust with a new patient? See answer
  2. What aspects of practising medicine do you find most rewarding? See answer
  3. How do you handle patients requesting an antibiotic for a viral infection? See answer
  4. How do you stay current on the latest medical advances, technology, and information? See answer
  5. What areas of medicine are you most interested in practising? See answer
  6. Describe a challenging patient who tested your patience as a physician. See answer
  7. How do you handle hard conversations with patients, such as a positive diagnosis? See answer
  8. How do you support a patient when they approach you with wanting to make healthy lifestyle changes? See answer
  9. What other healthcare professionals do you work closely with to support the health of your patients? See answer
  10. Describe a time you disagreed with the diagnosis of another physician. See answer
  11. How would you describe your bedside manner as a physician? See answer
  12. Describe a time you made a misdiagnosis as a physician. See answer
  13. What interests you in working as a physician within our practise? See answer
  14. What’s your philosophy of western medicine as a physician?
  15. What’s your experience with using electronic medical records?
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Hire your next Physician today.

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Hire your next Physician today.

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Physician Interview Questions and Answers

How do you build rapport and trust with a new patient?

A competent physician knows how to make a new patient feel welcome and at ease. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to building rapport and trust with new patients. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interpersonal skills to develop a professional relationship with patients
  • Desire to create a positive and comfortable interaction for the patient
  • Communication skills to discuss the reason for a new patient's visit

Example:

"When seeing a patient for the first time, I introduce myself. I ask what brings them into the office and how I can help them. I let them talk about their concerns before the physical examination."

What aspects of practising medicine do you find most rewarding?

A successful physician is passionate about their career and recognises the impact they make. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to medicine and what aspects they find most rewarding. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding the various specialties of medicine and working within an area they enjoy
  • Interest in continuing to improve their professional skills and knowledge
  • Self-awareness of their strengths, weaknesses, and preferences within their career

Example:

"The most rewarding aspect of medicine for me is when I can work with a patient who has struggled with long-term, chronic pain and can provide them relief. By specializing in pain management, I can change the lives of those I help."

How do you handle patients requesting an antibiotic for a viral infection?

With the advent of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other superbugs, physicians need to educate their patients about the harm of misusing antibiotics. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to handling prescription requests from patients. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding the best practises of antibiotic use
  • Communication skills to educate patients on appropriate drug use
  • Ability to properly diagnose a patient's illness to prescribe the correct treatment

Example:

"When a patient requests an antibiotic and I can determine they are suffering from a viral infection, I explain why an antibiotic isn't the proper choice. I provide them with a detailed list of home remedies that support their immune system to fight off the virus and offer relief."

What's your philosophy of western medicine as a physician?

A physician needs to be aware of the difference between western and eastern medicine philosophy and their role in taking care of their patient's physical well-being. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to practising medicine. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding of the similarities and differences between western and eastern medicine
  • Interest in supporting patients who choose to include other healthcare practises
  • Ability to provide high-quality medical care to all patients

Example:

"My philosophy of western medicine is that it often can take a reactive approach. For example, much of my time as a physician is helping people to feel better after they've become sick. Because of this, I fully support my patients who work proactively to maintain a healthy lifestyle."

How do you stay current on the latest medical advances, technology, and information?

A successful physician stays up-to-date with current trends and information and participates in professional development. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's interest in updating their professional skills and knowledge while staying current on medical events. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interest in taking part in professional development opportunities
  • Ability to implement newly learned information into their practise
  • Interpersonal and communication skills to network and learn from others

Example:

"I take part in various conferences and workshops throughout the year to stay current with the latest medical advances and techniques. I also participate in several networking groups..."

What areas of medicine are you most interested in practising?

A physician typically specialises in a particular area of medicine, such as paediatrics, oncology, or respiratory. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's preferences in practising medicine. What to look for in an answer:

  • Solid foundational knowledge of general medicine
  • Interest in pursuing an area of speciality
  • Self-awareness of professional strengths and weaknesses

Example:

"As a family physician, the area of medicine I most enjoy is general medicine. However, I do especially enjoy working with children and seniors. I've taken many courses and training about paediatrics and geriatrics challenges, both of which I use daily in my family practise."

Describe a challenging patient who tested your patience as a physician.

A successful physician must work with a wide variety of patients with various backgrounds and personalities. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's ability to handle a challenging patient while providing high-quality care. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interpersonal skills to build rapport and trust with a patient
  • Communication skills to ask questions and actively listen to a patient's concerns
  • Ability to remain calm in challenging situations and relate with compassion

Example:

"I've had many challenging patients over my career. One example that comes to mind was a patient who dealt with numerous medical issues. They would see numerous general physicians and rarely let any of us know about the others. This was incredibly challenging because..."

How do you handle hard conversations with patients, such as a positive diagnosis?

A successful physician must have hard conversations with their patients in a supportive and productive manner. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's process for handling difficult discussions. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to adapt communication style and vocabulary to suit the individual
  • Desire to remain compassionate, empathetic, and supportive
  • Ability to lead the discussion to identify the issue and offer several options or suggestions

Example:

"Giving a patient bad news is never easy. When I need to have a difficult discussion, I make sure they bring a loved one with them. I like to deliver the news straight away and then move into how we'll deal with their diagnosis."

How do you support a patient when they approach you with wanting to make healthy lifestyle changes?

A competent physician understands the importance of a healthy lifestyle. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to supporting their patients with positive lifestyle changes. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding of various lifestyle changes and the positive impact on a patient's wellbeing
  • Ability to offer support through education, referrals, and in-office visit guidance
  • A proactive approach to encouraging healthy lifestyle management within their practise

Example:

"As a physician, I encourage all of my patients to adopt healthy lifestyle choices. I offer referrals to nurse practitioners, dieticians, and other healthcare providers who can provide additional education and training in specific areas."

What other healthcare professionals do you work closely with to support the health of your patients?

A physician knows they are one of several important healthcare providers that aid in improving the wellbeing of their patients. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to working within a larger healthcare team. What to look for in an answer:

  • Understanding of the various healthcare professionals that can support a patient's healthcare
  • Networking skills to build positive professional relationships for referrals
  • Ability to refer to other professionals who specialise in specific areas of interest

Example:

"I work with many other healthcare professionals to support the overall health of my patients. The list includes psychologists, social workers, naturopaths, nurse practitioners, dieticians, and medical specialists."

Describe a time you disagreed with the diagnosis of another physician.

A physician must handle conflict effectively when disagreeing with another physician's diagnosis. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to managing a professional disagreement. What to look for in an answer:

  • Solid foundational expertise in their area of medicine
  • Critical thinking and analytical skills to assess their opinion against another diagnosis.
  • Communication skills to confer with the other physician positively when needed

Example:

"One example I can easily recall was a patient that came to see me for a second opinion of a skin reaction. After completing a thorough medical history and examination, I ordered multiple lab tests to confirm my diagnosis. My conclusion differed from the first doctor they saw. As a result, I presented all of my findings to the patient and then called the other doctor to discuss what we each found. Then I..."

What's your experience with using electronic medical records?

A competent physician needs to have solid computer literacy skills and understand how to use and maintain electronic medical records effectively. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's experience with computer technology for medical documentation. What to look for in an answer:

  • Solid foundational computer literacy skills
  • Ability to use electronic medical records software
  • Attention to detail and accuracy for documents that are computerised instead of written

Example:

"Ever since starting my practise after medical school, I've only used electronic medical records software. I've used several platforms, but all are very similar in terms of the information collected and the process for using them."

How would you describe your bedside manner as a physician?

Having a confident and approachable bedside manner is an essential skill for any physician to develop. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to patient interaction, also considered bedside manner. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interest in being compassionate, empathetic, and supportive to all patients
  • Willing to listen to their patient's concerns and fears
  • Ability to adapt their communication style to the individual they are helping

Example:

"I would consider my patient interaction to be proactive, supportive, and encouraging. I believe in developing a positive relationship with my patients, built on trust, understanding, and solid factual knowledge."

Describe a time you made a misdiagnosis as a physician.

Although they do their very best, even the best physician can make a mistake. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's experience of misdiagnosing a patient and how they handled the error. What to look for in an answer:

  • Comprehensive knowledge and experience in their field of medicine
  • Critical thinking and analytical skills to provide the best diagnosis
  • Problem-solving and communication skills to resolve a misdiagnosis

Example:

"I once misdiagnosed a patient who came to me with a skin rash. As a result of their medical history and examination, I determined it was an allergic skin irritation. A few days later, they called to inform me they became sick with shingles. I asked them to come in immediately upon which I..."

What interests you in working as a physician within our practise?

A physician candidate should understand what your organisation does and who you help within the healthcare field. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's interest in researching your company before the interview. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interest in researching the company and position before the interview
  • Ability to adapt their knowledge and experience to benefit the job
  • Enthusiastic about providing medical care to your patient base and offer a positive contribution

Example:

"I know that your practise has several general physicians as well as multiple specialists and complementary healthcare professionals. It excites me to work in a practise that can offer complete care to a patient with in-house referrals."

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